Wilson Theatre

ARTISTHANNAH on December 6, 2006 at 1:53 am

HI, I USED TO LIVE ON CORNER DIVISION AVENUE AND WILSON STREET. ITS DIVISION AVENUE, NOT STREET. ITS WISON STREET, NOT AVENUE. I USED TO PASS THIS FORMER THEATRE BUILDING ALL THE TIME.

michelemarie on December 6, 2006 at 7:18 pm

Dear Hannah, you are absoulely correct is is Division Ave. I was born and raised in Williamsburgh in 1945.I Lived on Penn Street and Bedford Ave. I remember Hymie’s Carriage and Bicicle Store right next door to the old Wilson Theater. The building was boarded up by the time I could remember And the public school across the street. We used to call it Wilson Park and go there quite often. I also remeber Clymer Street that was where the old 90 Precient was. I also remember 2 Beauty Parlor’s on Division Ave right across from the precient house on Clymer Don’s Beauty Parlor which became Bella’s Beauty Parlor when Don retired and sold to Bella. Toby was the manicurist and electorsist there. Glamour Beauty Parlor was around
the corner on Roebeling Street next to a Jewish Deli. Lee ave was a bunch of stores esc=peciall Flaum’s Appetiser store—great pickles There were a few candy stores on Lee Ave also. Shapiro’s on Lee and Hooper St. Another candy store across the street from Shapiro’s. Bill’s candy store on Penn and Lee and Lippy’s Candy store on Lee and Rutledge Street. As kids we went to all of them. Also the bakery called Kramer’s on Penn and Lee Avenue. They are all gone now. I had an opportunity to be in the neighborhood last year with my Daughter and gave her a tour of the old place, much to my dismay all the memories of my childhood are now just memories except my old school which was Transfiguration on Marcy Avenue and Hooper Street. I stiol have a Dear friend who lives on Hewes Street and we went to school together and we talk often about the old days, and the old moviehouses which are now extinct. Anniegirl

michelemarie on January 2, 2007 at 9:14 pm

Dear Smoky, Where on Rutledge Street did you live. My Aunt Nancy Russo and her children Eugene, Gary and Sally lived between Marcy and Lee Avenue and my Friend Virginia Molloy lived on Rutledge in the Apartment house between Lee and Bedford near Schlensky’s Drug Store on Lee Ave. Do you remember Faust Ice Cream parlor on Bedford and Rutledge.During the 50’s and all of us went to the Model Movie house on Lee Avenue. Then we went to the Commodore on Broadway. I lived on Penn Street between Bedford and Whythe Ave. I surely remember hYMIES. You have to remember Kraemer’s Bakery on Penn and Lee. If you get this, e-mail me at and we can talk about the good old days in Williamsburgh. Happy New Year Smoky.

jtp on September 19, 2010 at 11:08 pm

certificates of occupancy through the years.

capacity of 800+ up to at least 1959. After that there is a C of O for a capacity of 325 from 1962, but that may or may not be for the same structure.

View link

From aerial shots it is definitely still the same building on that lot, but who knows what the interior has become.

View link

My guess would be that a major alteration took place sometime after 1959 and much of the theater was carved up into classrooms. If I spoke yiddish or hebrew I might try to sweet talk my way in there to check it out!

Asbags on June 21, 2011 at 3:37 pm

Hi, all…..I introduced the Wilson Theater to Cinema Treasures several years ago when nobody could remember it ever existed. I went to P.S. 16 and used to walk past the closed theater every day. I called the Jewish Book Store next to the Synagogue and spoke to someone who told me that the floor in the Synagogue was being replaced because it slopped forward. That bit of information and a Google Earth view of the building showing what appeared to be a typical movie theater roof, cinched the fact that the Synagogue used to be a movie theater. I am soo happy that others are still talking about the theater. I would suggest that you view all the comments going back to the beginning or several years worth. It is interesting and worthwhile. Asbags